Do older rural drivers self-regulate their driving? The effects of increased driving importance and limited alternative transportation

This study examined whether older rural drivers are restricted in the ability to self-regulate their driving by the importance they attribute to driving and reduced access to alternative transportation. A sample of 170 drivers (aged ≥ 75) from rural and urban areas of South Australia completed a questionnaire on driving importance, alternative means of transportation and driving self-regulation. Rural participants viewed their driving as more important than urban participants did and believed that they had less public transport available to them, used public transport less and had fewer other alternative means of transportation (e.g., taxi) available. However, they did not differ on indices of self-regulation (avoidance of difficult driving situations, reductions in amount of driving and willingness to stop driving). Thus, older rural drivers’ self-regulation is not restricted by increased driving importance or limited alternative transportation. However, limited alternative transportation is still viewed as a disadvantage to mobility.